America's Egg Farmers Lend Helping Hand to Local Communities and Donate More Than 12 Million Eggs to Food Banks Nationwide

ALPHARETTA, Ga., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- America's egg farmers are lending a helping hand to their local communities this Easter by teaming up with Feeding America to donate 12 million eggs to food banks across the country.  The eggs donations will span approximately 90 cities in 33 states leading up to Easter on April 4.

According to a 2009 report on food insecurity from the United States Department of Agriculture, the number of Americans at risk of hunger is a staggering one in six, with an increase from 2007 to 2008 of 13 million people. The number of children at risk of hunger is now an alarming one in four.  Feeding America is annually providing food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children. Fresh items, such as eggs, are always a prized item for food banks due to their dense nutritional and high protein content.

"Many of our clients are having to decide between food and other basic necessities, such as paying the rent or a utility bill," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.  "Receiving the gift of eggs, which have always been an important staple in the American diet, is a tremendous help at this time of year."

This marks the third year in a row United Egg Producers and Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, are teaming up to help ensure America's food banks are well stocked with nutrient-dense eggs. The nationwide partnership will help feed the nearly 49 million men, women and children in America who are at risk of hunger.

"United Egg Producers and its members are proud to lend a helping hand to those in need in our local communities," said Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers.  "Our members are committed to making these donations because they realize what an impact they have on the many Americans who are at risk of hunger, especially during the Easter holiday."

Stretched out shell to shell (each egg is approximately two and a half inches long), the more than 12 million donated eggs equals 494 miles.  Nutritious for their size and caloric content, every egg has 13 essential nutrients including high quality protein – choline, folate, iron and zinc – with only 75 calories.  

About United Egg Producers

United Egg Producers (UEP) is the nation's leading trade association for U.S. egg farmers, representing 97 percent of U.S. egg farmers, whose members produce eggs including modern cage production, cage-free, free range, organic and other specialty eggs. UEP is based in Alpharetta, GA. To learn more about the egg industry visit www.uepcertified.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

SOURCE United Egg Producers